Klimaatverandering 146

Climate change biggest threat to health, doctors say

Senior doctors today published a report warning that climate change is the
biggest threat to global health of the 21st century.

Rising global temperatures would have a catastrophic effect on human
health, the doctors said, and patterns of infection would change, with
insect-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever spreading more
easily.

Heatwaves such as occurred in Europe in 2003, which caused up to 70,000
"excess" deaths, will become more common, as will hurricanes, cyclones and
storms, causing flooding and injuries.

"We have not just underestimated but completely neglected and ignored this
issue," said Richard Horton, editor of the Lancet, which published the
report commissioned from University College London. "This has not been an
issue on the agenda of any professional body in health in the last 10 years
in any significant way. This report is one of the stepping stones in
changing that culture within the health sector. It is the biggest employer
in Britain and it should be a leading voice in the debate."

The lead author of the report, Prof Anthony Costello, a paediatrician who
works on maternal and newborn health in the developing world, said his own
views had changed. "I thought there were other priorities 18 months ago,"
he said. Now he believed that mitigating the impact of rising temperatures
was urgent. "Every year we delay, the costs go up. We are setting up a
world for our children and grandchildren that may be extremely turbulent."

The biggest impact could be in food and water shortages, which in the past
have led to war and mass migration.

Lees verder: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/13/climate-change-health-impact